Freeman basketball tourney next week
It’s hard to remember sometimes that basketball isn’t always played in large arenas and in front of thousands of screaming fans.
While Spokane annually celebrates small-school basketball during the state State B tournament, it’s still easy to forget that a season of games are played in small school gymnasiums in communities that rally around their team all year round, not just when the action moves to the Veterans Arena. In communities so small they band together to field a high school team. In places where high school basketball isn’t just an activity – it’s winter’s social hub.
You can find a taste of the game at this level Tuesday and Wednesday at Freeman High School – roughly a 10-minute drive south of University High.
The school holds its annual boys and girls basketball tournaments. The girls tourney features LaSalle High School from Union Gap, Bonners Ferry and Tonasket along with the host Scotties. The boys tourney features Tonasket, Bonners Ferry and Timberlake High School from Spirit Lake, Idaho, along with the host team.
Tuesday’s schedule opens with two girls games in the afternoon – LaSalle vs. Bonners Ferry at 2 p.m; Tonasket vs. Freeman at 4. The first-round boys games, Tonasket vs. Timberlake and Freeman vs. Bonners Ferry, are scheduled for 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s consolation games will be played at 2 and 4 p.m., with championship games set for 6 and 7:30.
“This should be a good little tournament,” Freeman boys coach Mike Thacker said. “We always try to bring in the best competition we can find. I’ve always believed in playing as tough of a schedule as you can to get ready for the league season.”
Girls coach Matt Gregg agreed.
“This is a chance for us to get a couple games in against quality opponents before our league schedule kicks in after the first of the year,” he said. “Tonasket is a good team out of the Caribou Trail League and Bonners Ferry and LaSalle should make for a good game, too.”
In both Freeman teams, the tournament will be a showcase for some of the best basketball Class 1A has to offer.
A year ago Gregg’s girls squad was the No. 1-ranked team in the state heading into the state championship game, where the injury-riddled Scotties lost to a young team from Colfax. Freeman is led by senior Jessie Depell, returning State 1A Player of the Year.
The Freeman boys have been a fixture at the state tournament – usually with a trophy to show for it.
And while it doesn’t have the size of a larger school’s gym, the Scotties’ home court makes for an exciting place to watch a basketball game.
“Our home crowd has really supported us – both of us,” Gregg said. “We fill this place up and it’s a fun place to play a game of basketball.”